Automatic apparatus and method for applying closures to containers



Nov. 17, 1970 N. BowEN l AUTOMATIC APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR APPLYING CLOSURES TO CONTAINERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 50, 1968 y 'Aff/4 wx/fw,

@www5/@M 47 @1F/VIVA Nov. 17, 1970 N. BOWEN 3,540,181

AUTOMATIC APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR APPLYING CLOSURES TO CONTAINERS Filed Dec. 50, 1968 asheets-Sheet 2 Mmm/me. Mm .5a/few,

United States Patent O 3,540,181 AUTOMATIC APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR APPLYING CLOSURES T CONTAINERS Neil Bowen, Delft, Netherlands, assignor to Inland Steel Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 30, 1968, Ser. No. 787,811 Int. Cl. B651 7/28 U.S. Cl. 53-3 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus and method for locating, closing and sealing the filling orifices of shipping containers on an automatic, high-speed production basis, and wherein an orifice locating device, a closure applying device, and a closure sealing device are carried in fixed spaced relation to one another while being free for controlled movement through fixed incremental distances so as to bring each device, in seriatim order, into overlying operative relation with successive container filling orifices for the purpose of automatically applying closures to such orifices and for sealing such closures.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to container closing and sealing systems and, more particularly, to an improved apparatus and method for applying closures to filled or partially filled containers, and for sealing such closures, on a high-speed production line basis. In its principal aspects, the invention is concerned with the application of plugs or bungs such, for example, as a screw threaded cap or plug, to a drum, a closed-head container, or other types of containers which are conventionally provided with a closable filling orifice at the upper end thereof.

Until the advent of the present invention, the application of closures to filled or partially filled drums or similar containers has generally been an operation that has been performed manually by one or more workmen located at the closure application station of a drum filling production line. In some instances, specially designed tools have been provided for applying and sealing such closures. In todays market, however, there is an ever increasing trend toward the use of high speed equipment which is either completely automatic or, at least, semia-utomatic in operation; and such automatic and semiautomatic equipment is being employed more and more often in container filling systems. As a result, systems for filling containers o-n a high-speed automatic basis with a desired one of diverse substances are known to, and used by, persons skilled in the art. Unfortunately, however, in any automated production line the actual speed of the line is determined not by the speed of the most efficient automatic equipment, but, rather, by the speed of the slowest stage in the line. Consequently, it has been found that the application of closures todrums and like containers has heretofore presented a serious limitation on the speed with whichsuch containers can be filled, closed and otherwise processed. This limitation has led to a demand for automatic closing systems which are at least as efficient, rapid and effective in operation as are the container filling components of the system.

It is a general aim of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for applying closures to containers on a high-speed production line basis, which method and apparatus are characterized by their simplicity and reliability in operation.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of an improved apparatus for accurately locating the filling orifices of filled or partially filled containers, and

r1ce

for then bringing closure applying and closure sealing devices into operative relation with the filling orifices without having to `move the relatively heavy containers.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide an automatic closure applying system of the foregoing character which permits of use of readily available tools for applying closures to Ifilling orifices and for sealing thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, and partially diagrammatic, side elevational view, partly in section, illustrating a closure applying station in a container filling line, with such station embodying the features of the present invention; and,

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, and partially diagrammatic, plan view, partly in section, of the apparatus shown in FIG. l with certain portions thereof deleted for purpose of clarity.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative forms, a specific embodiment thereof has been shown by Way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but, on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling with the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE INVENTION Referring noW to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. l a portion of a production line in a high speed container filling system, the portion shown being the container closing station, generally indicated at 10. As here shown a plurality of containers, one of which is indicated at 11, are delivered one at a time in seriatirn order to the closing station 10 by any suitable power driven conveyor such as the exemplary roller conveyor indicated at 12. In the illustrative form of the invention, the containers 11 are conveyed from right to left as viewed in the drawing, although those skilled in the art will appreciate as the ensuing description proceeds that the direction of container movement is not important to the invention. In practice, the conveyor 12 transports the containers 11 to the closing station 10 from a conventional automatic container filling station (not shown) where the empty containers are filled only after orientation of the filling orifice 14 in the container head member 15 with a suitable filling nozzle (not shown). lt will further be appreciated that orientation of the containers 11 prior to filling thereof is a relatively simple matter since the empty containers are light in weight, and such orientation can be achieved `with any of numerous well known types of container orienting devices (not shown).

On the other hand, once the containers have been filled or partially filled, the weight of the container plus its contents is such that further orientation or reorientation of the container is difficult and, indeed, not practical on a high-speed production basis. The containers 11, having been oriented at the filling station, will, of course, arrive at the closing or closure applying station 10 with their filling orifices 14 roughly oriented relative to a known point, but such rough orientation has not, prior to the present invention, been sufficiently accurate as to permit reliable and repetitive placement of closure elements on successive containers on an automatic basis, and it is this particular problem that the present invention relates to. When each container 11 arrives at a predetermined point at the closure applying station 10, provision is made in any known conventional manner (not shown) for termi- 3 nating further movement of the container 11 relative to the station 10. For example, arrival of the leading edge of the container 11 at a specific point can be used to trigger a conventional photo-electric mechanism (not shown) capable of interrupting the conveyor drive.

In accordance with the present invention, provision is made for accurately locating the lling orfice 14 of each container 11 as the latter arrive in the closure applying station 10, and for thereafter applying, on an automatic production line basis, a closure (not shown) and, if desired, a capseal (not shown) thereto, all without having to shift the heavily laden container and without having to employ manual labor to apply such closure elements. To this end, a locating device, generally indicated at 18, a conventional closure applying device, generally indicated at 19, and a conventional capseal applying device, generally indicated at 20, are supported in fixed linearly spaced relation to one another on a rectangular frame 21 which is disposed in the closure applying station all three devices 18, 19 and 20 being normally located above a plane passing through the upper edge of the container 11 in station 10 so that containers may pass freely under such devices during their transit from station to station. In the exemplary apparatus, the frame 21 is coplanar with, and mounted with freedom for controlled movement in a second rectangular frame 22. The frame 22 is, in turn, supported on a lower, stationary frame member 24 through which the conveyor belt 12, and therefore the containers 11, pass.

In order to permit accurate orientation of the closure applying device 19 and the capseal applying device 20 with respect to the stationary and roughly oriented container orifice 14, provision is made for independently shifting the rectangular frames 21 and 22, and therefore the devices 19 and 20 which are fixed to frame 21, by incremental amounts determined by the actual position of the stationary container orifice 14. Stated another way, as each container 11 reaches the closure applying station 10 and stops at a fixed position therein, it is found that the filling orifice 14 of such container will generally be in a known, roughly oriented, position, such position being determined by the particular set-up employed in the preceding filling station (not shown). While such rough orientation does not permit the automated application of closure elements to the orifice, in carrying out the invention, advantage is taken of the fact that the actual position of the orifice is roughly the same from container to container and is generally known, and such fact is then used to (a) precisely locate the actual position of the filling orifice 14, and (b) to automatically orient the closure applying elements 19 and 20- with respect to the precisely located orifice position. To accomplish this, one end of the frame 22 (e.g., the left end as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2 is pivotally mounted at 25 to the corresponding end of the stationary frame 24, while the other end of the frame 22 (e.g., the right end as viewed in FIGS. l and 2) is movably supported on the corresponding end of frame 24 by means of rollers 26 with freedom for limited pivotal movement about the pivot 25 in directions extending generally transversely of the conveyor belt 12. The arrangement is such that the ability of the frame 22 to pivot 25 and, therefore, to carry with it frame 21 and the devices 19 and 20, s such that the devices 19 and 20 can be shifted laterally with respect to the conveyor belt 12 to thus permit transverse orientation of such devices with respect to the actual position of the containing filling orifice 14.

In order to permit orientation of the devices 19 and 20 in a direction substantially at right angles to the transverse adjustmenrt described above (i.e., in directions substantially along the axis of the conveyor belt 12), provision is made for permitting slidable coplanar adjustment of. the frame 21 within the frame 22. To this end, a pair of vertically spaced, parallel, and generally horizontal spindles 28 and 2.9 are rigidly mounted on the pivotable rectangular frame 22; the inner frame 21 being slidably mounted on such spindles by Iball bushings 30. As a consequence of this construction, the frame 21 is free to move within the plane of the pivotal frame 22 with linear motion generally at right angles to the direction of permissible movement of pivotal frame 22. In other words, pivoting of the frame 22 about stationary pivot 25 permits orientation of the frame 21 and the closure applying and sealing devices, 19 and 20 respectively, in directions along a first axis extending generally transversely of the belt 12, while sliding of the frame 21 on spindles 28 and 29 within frame 22 permits orientation of the devices along a second axis--viz., generally longitudinally with respect to the belt 12.

In keeping with this aspect of the invention, provision is made for controlling the degree of pivotal movement of frame 22 and sliding movement of frame 21 as a function of the actual position of the roughly oriented stationary filling nozzle 14 of each container 11 disposed in the closure applying station. For this purpose, the locating device 18 is rigidly aflixed to the frame 21 at a point substantially on a precisely known vertical axis passing through the generally known, roughly oriented, position of the filling orifice 14. It has been found that as a practical matter the deviations of the actual filling orifice positions from this known precise axis will be minor and, while of sufficient magnitude to prevent automated application of closure elements to the containers, such deviations will not -be so great as to prevent the vertical axis of the locating device from passing through the orifice 14 itself. This being the case, the locating device 18 includes a downwardly directed conical positioning member 31 aixed to the lower end of a piston rod 32. The upper end of the piston rod 32 is afiixed to a piston 34 which is slidable in a cylinder 35. The piston-cylinder arrangement may be of any known conventional type such, for example, as a double acting air cylinder having a pair of air (or other fluid) inlet/outlet ports 36, 38; with the cylinder 35 itself being afiixed directly to the frame 21. Thus, when the port 36 is coupled to a source of pressure fluid (not shown) and the port 38 is coupled to drain, the piston 34 moves downwardly, thereby causing the tip of the inverted conical positioning member 31 to enter the roughly oriented orifice 14. Since the container 11 is loaded and, therefore, relatively heavy, the container will be substantially immovable. However, since the frame 22 is, at this time, freely pivotable about pivot 25, while the frame 21 is, at this time, freely slidable within frame 22, as the rigid piston 32 and positioning device 31 enter the orifice 14, the conical shape of the device 31 will tend to cam the frame 21 in two directions until such time as the axis of the locating device 18 is precisely oriented on and above the vertical axis passing the actual orifice.

Merely by way of example, let it be assumed that when the container 11 arrived at a stationary position in the station 10, the orifice 14 was slightly downstream (i.e., slightly to the left as viewed in FIG. 1) of the axis of the locating device 18. Similarly, and with reference to FIG. 2, let it be assumed that the orifice 14 was slightly to the left of the initial axis of the locating device 18 (i.e., slighly beneath the locating device as viewed in FIG. 2). Under these assumed conditions, when the conical positioning device 31 enters the orifice 14, the locating device 18 will tend to move along both axes. That is, the locating device 18 will shift to the left as viewed in FIG. l with the frame 21 sliding to the left along spindles 28, 29.1until the device 18 is directly and precisely over the orifice 14. At the same time, the locating device 18 will shift downwardly as viewed in FIG. 2, causing frames 21 and 22 to pivot in a clock wise direction as viewed in the drawing. Again, the motion will terminate only when the locating device 18 is precisely positioned over the filling orifice 14.

Once the locating device 18 is precisely positioned over the filling orifice 14, provision is made for locking the frames 21 and 22 in their now precisely oriented positions during the balance of the closure applying and sealing cycle. To this end, a gripping mechanism, generally 1ndicated at 40, is provided, which mechanism serves two functions: first, to lock the slidable frame 21 to the pivotal frame 22 and, second, to lock the pivotal frame 22 to the stationary support frame 24.

As best seen by reference to FIGS. l and 2 conjointly, it will be observed that in the exemplary apparatus the gripping mechanism l includes a conventional fiuid actuated double acting piston/ cylinder combination wherein a cylinder 41 having an axially movable piston 42 therein is mounted on a irst clamping block 44, the latter being seated on a second clamping block 45- integral with frame 22. A piston rod 46 extends vertically downward through the clamping blocks 44 and 45, and from thence through an arcuate slot (not shown) in the stationary support frame 24. The lower end of the piston rod 46 is provided with an enlarged integral head 48. Cylinder 41 is, in a conventional manner, provided with a pair of inlet/ outlet ports 49, 50 which are adapted to be selectively coupled in any suitable manner to respective ones of a source of pressure fluid and drain (not shown).

As best observed in FIG. 2, a pair of double acting i piston/ cylinder combinations 51, 52 are affixed in coaxial end-to-end relation; the cylinders 54, 55 of such combinations 51, 52 respectively `being permanently affixed to one another by any suitable bracket 56. The piston/ cylinder combination 51 is affixed directly to slidable frame 21 by a piston rod 58 which is secured at one end to a bracket 59 on frame 21 and at the other end to a piston 60- slidable in cylinder 54 between a pair of liuid inlet/ outlet ports 61, 62. Piston/ cylinder combination 52 includes a piston 64 slidable in cylinder 55 between a pair of fluid inlet/ outlet ports 65, 66. The piston 64 is provided with a piston rod 68, the other end of which is coupled to a rod 69 which is axially movable in a bearing 70 and passes horizontally between the upper and lower clamping blocks 44, 4s (FIG. 1).

In operation, and more particularly, during the orienti'ng operation heretofore described, when the locating device 18 is actuated, port 49 of the gripping mechanism 40, port 62 of cylinder 54, and port 65 of cylinder 55 are all coupled to a source of pressurized fluid (not shown), while ports 50, 61 and 66 are coupled to drain. As a consequence, rod 69 is free to move axially within bearing 70 and clamping blocks 44, 45, thus permitting sliding movement of the frame 21, while rod 46 (FIG. l) is free to move along an arcuate path in the arcuate slot (not shown) formed in support 24 as frame 22 pivots about pivot 25. After a short delay of sufiicient length to insure accurate positioning of the frames 21, 22, port 49 of the gripping mechanism 40k is coupled to drain, while port 50 is coupled to any suitable fluid pressure source (not shown). This serves to cause piston 42 to move axially upward (as viewed in FIG. l) in cylinder 41, thus clamping the head 48 on piston rod 46 against the undersurface of support 24, while at the same time causing the two clamping blocks 44, 4S to be tightly clamped together. The clamped frictional engagement between head 48 and support 24 serves to lock pivotal frame 22 to the stationary support 24; while the frictional engagement between the clamping blocks 44, 45 and rod 69 serves toprevent further axial movement of the latter, thus locking the slidable frame 21 in a first fixed position wherein locating device 18 is precisely oriented over the filling orifice 14 of the container 11 then in the station 10. Port 36 in the cylinder 35 associated with locating device 18 may now be coupled to drain and port 38 to a source of fiuid pressure, thus shifting piston 34, piston rod 32 and the conical positioning member 31 upwardly and out of the orifice 14. The closure applying system is now precisely oriented with respect to the roughly oriented filling orifice 14.

In carrying out the present invention, provision is next made for automatically bringing the closure applying device 19 (FIG. l) into precisely oriented operative relation to the filling orifice 14 for the purpose of applying a suitable closure thereto. As previously indicated, any suitable conventional closure applying tool can be used, and the present invention is not limited to or dependent upon the structural or operational details of such tools which are well known to those skilled in the art. For example, if the orifice 14 is internally threaded, the closure might take the forni of an externally threaded plug, in which event the device 19 would, in all probability, be capable of both axial and rotational movement for bringing the tool to the orifice and screwing the closure plug into such orifice. Similarly, if the orifice is externally threaded, the device 19 would be adapted to bring a tool to the orifice for screwing an internally threaded cap thereon. It would, of course, also be within the scope of the invention to employ tools for driving plugs axially into the orifice, or for snapping caps or plugs axially into position, in which event the device 19 would not require any rotary motive force. Since all of these tools are known, a description of the details of any given one should not be necessary. Rather, for a complete understanding of the invention, it should only be necessary to describe the provisions that have been made for bringing the particular closure applying device 19 selected into operative and precisely oriented relation with the container filling orifice 14. To this end, it will be recalled that the closure applying device 19 is affixed to slidable frame 21 in such a manner that it is in fixed, linearly spaced relation to the locating device 18, with the spacing between the two devices being designated in FIG. l by a known dimension X. Therefore, once the locating device 18 is retracted, it is merely necessary to automatically shift the slidable frame 21 (to the right as viewed in the drawings) by a fixed distance X, whereupon the closure applying device 19 will be above, and precisely oriented with respect to, the filling orifice 14. During such movement of the frame 21 through a distance X, the gripping mechanism 40 remains actuated so as to prevent pivotal movement of frame 22 and axial movement of rod 69. To accomplish this, the valve connections (not shown) for the pressure iiuid and drain ports for piston/ cylinder combination 51 are reversed. That is, port 61 is now coupled to a source of pressure fluid (not shown) and port 62 is coupled to drain, thus shifting piston to the right as viewed in FIG. 2. Since port 65 remains connected to the pressure fiuid source and rod 69 remains tightly clamped by blocks 44, 45 (FIG. l), the cylinders 54, 55 remain stationary while piston 60 moves to the right. The piston/ cylinder combination 51 is preadjusted in any suitable manner so that the working piston stroke will be through a distance X. Consequently, as the piston 60 moves to the right a distance X, the slidable frame 21 coupled thereto by piston rod 58 and bracket 59 moves a corresponding distance X, thus positioning the closure applying device 19 in precisely oriented operative relation above orifice 14. Such closure applying device is then operated in its conventional automatic operative mode for applying the desired closure to the orifice.

Upon completion of the closure applying cycle of operation, provision is then made for sealing the closure. Again, the particular sealing device 20 employed will depend upon many variables such as the type of closure and the nature of the seal. Such devices are well known and conventional, and will not, therefore, be herein described in detail. It should suflice to point out the manner and means for bringing such a sealing device 20 into precisely oriented and operative relation to the orifice 14 which has now been closed. To this end, and again with reference to FIG. 2, provision is made for reversing the valve connections (not shown) for ports 65, 66 associated with piston/cylinder combination 52. Thus, port 66 is now coupled directly to a source of pressure fiuid (not shown) and port is coupled to drain. During this cycle of operation, gripping mechanism 40 (FIG. l) remains activated and ports 61 and 62 associated with piston/cylinder combination 51 remain coupled to high pressure and drain respectively. Consequently, since piston 64 is clamped in a stationary position, application of pressure fluid through port 66 causes cylinders 54 and 55, piston 60, piston rod 58 and bracket 59 all to shift to the right as viewed in the drawings, thus shifting slidable frame 21 to the right by a linear distance Y equal to (a) the working stroke of piston/cylinder combination 52 and (b) the linear distance or` spacing between the closure applying device 19 and the capseal device 20 (FIG. l). Capseal device 20 is now in precisely oriented operative relation to the now closed orifice. Operation thereof in a known conventional manner will serve to seal the closure.

Upon completion of the sealing operation, the sealing device 20 is retracted and the valving associated with ports 49, 50, `61, 62, 65 and 66 is again reversed. This serves to release the gripping mechanism 40, thus freeing frames 21 and 22 for slidable and pivotal movement respectively, and at the same time to return the piston/ cylinder combinations 51, 52, to their original states with the frame 21 in its initial position wherein the locating device 18 is disposed above the roughly oriented' position for the filling orifice of the next container 11. The conveyor belt 12 is then again activated to eject the closed and sealed container 11 from the closure applying station 10 and to bring the next filled container on the belt to such station.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that any suitable control circuit employing conventional electrical and fluid control components can be utilized to step the system described above through a completely automated cycle, and such a system has not, therefore, been herein described in detail. For example, as indicated herein, arrival of the leading edge of the container 11 at a predetermined point can be used to create .two signals, the first of which stops the conveyor and the second of which starts operation of the locating device 18. After a suitable fixed time delay to insure full extension of the locating device, the gripping mechanism `40 is then activated, followed immediately by reversal of the valve connections to ports 61, 62 associated with piston/cylinder combination 51. Any suitable electromechanical sensor can be utilized to initiate operation of the closure applying device 19 upon movement of piston 60 through a full working stroke, while completion of the operational cycle for such device 19 can be used to create a signal effective to reverse the valve connections to ports 65, 66 associated with piston/ cylinder combination 52. Again, when the full working stroke of the combination 52 has been completed, any suitable sensor can initiate an operational cycle for the sealing device 20, and completion of that operational cycle can create a signal which is effective to (a) deactivate the gripping mechanism 40, (b) restore the piston/cylinder combinations 51, 52 to their initial state, and (c) restart the conveyor belt 12.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that there has herein been illustrated and described a highly versatile automated system for applying closures to container orifices and wherein the diverse closure applying tools are automatically oriented with reference to the actual position of the container orifice as it arrives in the closing station 10. Moreover, it will be understood that the system can be quickly adjusted to accommodate a wide range of different size containers. For example, the tools `18, 19 and 20 could easily be mounted higher on the frame 21 to accommodate taller containers and, conversely, lower on the frame 21 to accommodate shorter containers. Moreover, the spacings X and Y can be varied to meet specific requirements resulting from, for example, tool dimensions, container size, and/ or orifice position. In this latter instance it is merely necessary to adjust the lengths of the work-Stroker for the piston/cylinder combinations 51, 52 so that they are equal to the distances X and Y respectively.

I claim as my invention:

1. In apparatus of the type for filling and closing containers and having a filling station and a closure applying station with the filling station having means for roughly orienting the container filling orifice, and means for conveying containers in seriatim order from station to station, the improvement in said closure applying station comprising, in combination: a stationary support, frame means mounted on said support with freedom for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, a locating device and a closure applying device carried by said frame means, said devices being spaced apart by a distance X and movable in unison with said frame means about said axis and' being movable also towards and away from said axis, said locating device being disposed vertically above the roughly oriented position of the filling orifice of each container delivered to said closure applying station by said conveying means and being extensible and retractable along its vertical axis, said locating device having cam means for entering the filling orifice of a laden container and camming said frame means so as to shift said devices in unison to positions where said locating device is precisely oriented above and on the axis of the filling orifice, means for clamping said frame means in said precisely oriented position, and means for shifting said closure applying device and said locating device in unison relative to said frame means through a distance X to position said closure applying device in precisely oriented operative relation to the container orifice.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that a sealing device is carried by said frame means with said locating, closure applying and sealing devices being in a linear array, said locating and closure applying devices being spaced apart by a distance X, said closure applying and sealing devices being spaced apart by a dis` tance Y, and said locating and sealing devices being spaced apart .by a distance X -l-Y, with said devices all being movable in unison and operative in seriatim order, and means for shifting said devices in unison relative to said frame means through a distance Y upon application of a closure to the filling orifice so as to position said sealing device in precisely oriented operative relation to the container orifice.

3. Apparatus as set in claim 1 further characterized in that said cam means comprises an axially extensible and retractable inverted cone.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said frame means includes a first frame member pivotally mounted on said stationary support and a second frame member carried by said first frame member with freedom for selective controlled movement in the plane of said first frame member towards and away from the vertical pivotal axis of the latter, said devices being fixedly mounted on said second frame member in spaced apart relation for pivotal movement with both of said frame members about said vertical axis and for movement with said second frame member relative to said first frame member.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 further characterized in that said rst frame member comprises a rectangular frame pivoted at one end to said support for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, spindle means mounted on said frame coplanar therewith and extending perpendicular to said vertical pivot axis, said second frame member being non-rotatably and slidably mounted on said spindle means.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 further characterized in that said clamping means includes first, second and third gripping elements, the first of said elements being afiixed to said first frame member, the second of said elements being slidably engaged with said stationary support, and the third of said elements being carried by said first element, means for shifting said elements towards one another, and means coupled to said second frame member extending between said first and third elements, whereupon shifting of said elements towards one another causes said support member to be frictionally engaged between and clamped by said first and second elements to lock said first frame member to said stationary support and said means coupled to said second frame member is frictionally engaged and clamped between said first and third elements to lock said second frame member to said first frame member.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 further characterized in that said means coupled to said second frame member and extending between said first and third elements includes an extensible and retractable device having a Working stroke X and means for actuation thereof, whereby upon movement thereof through a distance X said second frame member is shifted a distance X relative to said first frame member so as to position said closure applying device directly above and in precisely oriented operative relation to the filling orifice of the laden container.

8. The method of applying closures to the filling orifices of filled containers which are being filled and closed on a high-speed production line basis, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) establishing a known point in a closure applying station;

(b) delivering filled containers to the closure applying station one at a time with their filling orifices roughly oriented on said known point;

(c) positioning a locating device and a closure applying device in said station with a fixed reference spacing X therebetween and with said devices supported on a frame and positioned above a horizontal plane passing through the upper end of the container;

(d) positively lowering said locating device to cause the lower end thereof to enter the filling orifice so as to cam the frame in two directions and cause the locating device to shift to a precisely oriented position above and on a vertical axis extending through the orfiice;

(e) clamping the frame to maintain the vertical plane passing through the axes of the locating device and the closure applying device coincident with the vertical axis of the filling orifice; and,

(f) shifting the frame in its own plane through a distance X to precisely orient the closure applying device above the orifice and in operative relation thereto.

9. The method of applying closures to the filling orifices of filled containers which are being filled and closed on a high-speed production line basis, said method comprising the steps of (a) establishing a known point in a closure applying station;

(b) delivering filled containers to the closure applying station one at a time with their filling orifices roughly oriented on said known point;

(c) positioning a locating device, a closure applying device, and a sealing device in said station and in a common vertical plane with reference spacing X between the locating and closure applying devices, a reference spacing Y between the closure applying and sealing devices, and a reference spacing X -l-Y between the locating and sealing devices, and with said devices being supported on a frame and positioned above a horizontal plane passing through the upper end of the container;

(d) positively lowering said locating device to cause the lower end thereof to enter the filling orifice so as to cam the frame in two directions and cause the locating device to shift to a precisely oriented position above and on a vertical axis extending through the orifice;

(e) clamping the frame to maintain the vertical plane passing through the axes of the locating device, closure applying device and sealing device coincident with the vertical axis of the filling orifice;

(f) shifting the frame in its own plane through a rst distance X to precisely orient the closure applying device above the orifice and in operative relation thereto, and thereafter applying a closure to the orifice; and,

(g) shifting the frame in its own plane through a second distance Y to precisely orient the sealing device above the orifice and in operative relation thereto, and thereafter sealing the closure.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS TRAVIS S. McGEHEE, Primary Examiner p U.S. Cl. X.R. 53-367 

